Always Prepared

Christmas is Coming

The long commercialized sprint to Christmas in American culture began early this year. I can remember before Halloween beginning to see Christmas stuff already cropping up in Home Depot and Walmart. The stores started preparing early for the coming of Christ. It was strange to see pumpkins, bats, and ghosts mixed in with the usual signs that Christmas is coming.

This last week we all gave thanks around the table with our families and friends and so begins our mad dash to the birth of Christ in a manger. Here today as we eagerly await the celebration of Christ’s first advent, we eagerly wait and prepare for his second advent. We eagerly wait the day when all the faithful come joyful and triumphant into the finished work of Christmas.

In Luke’s gospel Jesus is telling his disciples that they and their world is going to go through turmoil, and calamity before that great day of the coming of the Son of Man. Despite the calamity, despite what looks like their world falling apart. Stand and look up for their redemption is at hand. In the face of everything this world has to throw at us don’t lose hope, our faith is in God, pray that he will strengthen you and make you holy, when our Lord Jesus Christ returns with all his holy people. Always be prepared for the coming of Christ.

Making preparations

Mark 13, Matthew 24

We begin our advent journey in the last week of Christ’s earthly ministry. This text is in the shadow of Palm Sunday and Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It’s in the shadow of Christ over turning tables in the temple, it’s in the shadow of the plot by the religious leaders to kill Christ that we encounter Christ teaching today.

Jesus has been teaching in the temple daily ever since he over turned tables. Luke 21 is one of those teachings. Jesus lays out an apocalyptic scene, that covers the destruction of the Temple, the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans, right up to the coming of the Son of Man. The second coming of Christ.

What starts Jesus down this road of describing the future? Someone asks in Luke 21:7 what will be the sign that these things are about to take place? We ask questions so we can be prepared for what’s coming. The signs of the times isn’t what’s important in this passage, but always being prepared for the coming of Christ is what’s important.

The only important thing about the signs of the times to remember is to not let the calamities of our world shake our faith and hope found in the completed work of Christmas. When Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, comes in his glory with all his holy people. As Christ puts when you see all these things happening stand and look up for your redemption is near. DON’T BE DISCOURAGED

Luke uses Son of Man language a lot in his gospel. It references back to the Son of Man language found in Old Testament scripture. Dan 7:13-14 for example.

It’s at the very end of his teaching that Christ lays out what is truly important. Don’t let these signs overcome you, and lose hope. Keep alert! Always be ready, always be prepared for the coming of Christ. Christ also instructs his followers to pray that they might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors, and to stand at the coming of the Son of Man.

1 Thessalonians 3:12–13 NRSV

12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. 13 And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Always be prepared!

As society scrambles to get ready for commercialized Christmas. As society panics that Christmas is at risk. As our communities continue to be shaken by covid 19. As calamities, darkness, and the pains of life shake the world around us. Hear the words of Christ this morning stand and look up! Don’t loose hope!

This year as I shopped around Halloween I remember seeing Christmas stuff already going up in stores. Among the dark calamities of bats, and ghosts was the light Christ brings into the world. Despite the darkness of the apocalyptic scene painted in Luke by Christ, may almighty God strengthen us that the light of Christ will shine brighter and bring hope despite the calamities that surround us. May he strengthen our hearts in holiness that we may be blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.